Courageous

CHAPTER FOUR

To say that Carter was a little bit nervous would be an understatement. He had changed his outfit three times, had chewed off most of his nails and he also couldn't stay still for more than one second. He had never acted like this before and that worried him. 

But it pissed off Noah.

His friend didn't seem to like how he couldn't stand still for a second so he passed him a pencil and a blank page while he tried focusing on his homework. Noah wasn't nervous, like at all. It was around seven-thirty and he still wasn't ready while Carter felt the need to change his outfit again but he also felt like he was trying too much.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm down and in order to do that he took his friend's advice and started drawing. His pencil danced around the white sheet of paper and after a while, he forgot he was even drawing. His hands moved mechanically and all he could see was darkness as he lost focus. He wasn't paying attention to what he was doing but that didn't scare him since he used to do that a lot, especially when he was younger.

While his brother was outside playing soccer with his friends, Carter would lock himself inside and would paint till it was his bedtime. That's why he was his moms' favourite child, he wasn't a troublemaker like Nicholas. He loved to stay inside and draw. However, he did have his moments where he would throw tantrums or he would snap at anyone who insulted him or spoke poorly about his family.

He was quiet when needed and loud when he wanted for sure. 

By the time Noah was ready and they had to leave, Carter had finished his drawing. He had drawn two silhouettes, both of their faces not showing in the pictures since they were hugging and their faces were buried inside each other's neck. He took a deep breath while Noah examined the picture. He patted his friend on the shoulder.

"You're whipped alright," he murmured as he opened the door and grabbed his keys from the bowl on the small table next to the door. He gestured for him to get up and get out, "After you, my lady,"

"f**k you," it was whispered as he continued looking at the drawing he did. He definitely was whipped and he had just met the guy!

On his way out Carter grabbed his friend's jacket knowing that he would forget it and then threw it at him. Noah rolled his eyes but thanked him anyway. Noah wore a white shirt with the words 'anti-social social club' on it with light blue jeans, sneakers and his jacket while Carter wore a black pair of jeans with his green checkered flannel shirt and his black vans which were a birthday present from Nick who got them for him after all the begging he did.

With his phone in his pocket and his thoughts already making him anxious, Carter headed for the front of the university where he was sure Max would be waiting for them.

• • •

"So, wait, you took pictures of us fighting in the fountain?" Noah asked, his mouth full of fries which had Carter cringing and slapping him on the back of his head before telling him to stop talking while eating to which their new friend started laughing.

"Yeah, you guys were pretty entertaining and I love taking pictures so why the hell not?" He replied, a smile still evident on his lips, "Wanna see?"

"Please!" He took his camera out of his bag and then pushed a button before he turned it towards Carter and Noah and showed them a picture of them where the latter was in the air as the former scared him and pushed him inside the fountain. Carter snorted at his friend's face because it was hilarious. His mouth was open and his eyes were wide, you could tell he was scared shitless. "God, I look awful,"

Carter rolled his eyes, "You always look awful," Truth to be told those were the first words he said ever since they met up with Max. Of course, he had said hi but other than that he hadn't uttered a single word. His brother wouldn't be proud. Max seemed to notice too because his eyes suddenly, shifted towards him and they had a certain glint in them.

"Oh look, so the cat didn't get your tongue, huh?" Carter looked away; his face flushed. "I'm just messing with you, man. You haven't talked since we got here. Tell me something about you, me and Noah have been blubbering about ourselves while you never said a thing!"

He opened his mouth to talk but he was at a loss for words. What was he supposed to say? He had no idea! He was too embarrassed to talk and Max giving him his undivided attention wasn't helping. Plus, Noah was not being much of a help either since he didn't say a thing and instead stared at him too with raised eyebrows.

Then he mouthed, "Say something - favourite colour, what you study, something!"

Carter almost rolled his eyes. What a pep talk...

"Um, I - I um, I like -" He was just embarrassing himself even further and all he wanted to do what get up and leave but he wasn't able to do that because he was sitting inside the booth and Noah was next to him. He almost cursed.

"Hm, what do you major in?" Max didn't seem fazed by the fact that he was stuttering and couldn't answer his question. Instead, he seemed keen on what his answer would be. His green eyes were wide as they stared at him with wonder.

Carter shivered under his gaze as he found the courage to speak and form a proper sentence. "I'm majoring in art. I have no idea what I wanna be in the future but it definitely has to do with painting,"

Max smiled, "That seems pretty cool," His nerves disappeared as he continued answering his questions while Noah just stared at them like he was third-wheeling. At some point, he even excused himself to go to the bathroom and they didn't even notice he was gone for an hour (he had told Carter that after they went back to their dorm room).

Maybe this wasn't so bad after all...